IISS Fullerton Lecture
Tuesday 17 October 2017, 07:00 - 08:00 PM SGT

Challenges, opportunities, and innovation in the Indo-Asia-Pacific

What defines the strategic environment throughout the Indo-Asia-Pacific today is not individual threats, but the uncertainty presented by a multi-polar world where the rules-based international order is constantly under pressure. While this rules-based system has enabled 75 years of relative peace and unparalleled prosperity, nations of the Indo-Asia-Pacific are significantly increasing their military capabilities at different rates, on different scales and at varying levels of sophistication.

Admiral Harris described why this challenge is so important to the future security architecture in the region, where there are real opportunities for collaboration. He also discussed how innovation is one of the principal keys to a prosperous future.

Admiral Harris is the 24th Commander of US Pacific Command, the oldest and largest Combatant Command. He was born in Japan, reared in Tennessee, and graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1978 as a naval flight officer.

His most recent assignments include the Commander of the US Pacific Fleet and the Assistant to the Chairman of the JCS, where he served as the Chairman's direct representative to the Secretary of State, and the US roadmap monitor for the Middle East peace process.

Admiral Harris's education includes Harvard's Kennedy School of Government, Georgetown's School of Foreign Service, and Oxford University.

He has earned a distinction as the Navy's ‘Gray Owl’ – the longest serving Naval Flight Officer – and the ‘Old Goat’ – the oldest serving Naval Academy graduate still on active duty. He has logged 4,400 flight hours, including more than 400 combat hours, in maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft.

This event was chaired by Dr Tim Huxley, Executive Director, IISS–Asia. It took place at the Fullerton Hotel, 1 Fullerton Square, Singapore.

Watch the full recording of the lecture here:

Chair

Tim Huxley

Dr Tim Huxley is Executive Director of IISS–Asia in Singapore. He plays a leading role in organising the annual IISS Shangri-La Dialogue and the IISS Fullerton Forum: SLD Sherpa Meeting, as well as the IISS Fullerton Lecture series. He leads IISS research on the Asia-Pacific, edits the annual IISS Asia-Pacific Regional Security Assessment and contributes extensively to other IISS publications.